THE SPOETING QUALITIES OF ROACH. 297 



of Spanish cane, light and long, just stiff enough 

 to strike promptly and delicately. Some of the 

 London rods are too long, being from twenty to 

 twenty-four feet in length. A rod from sixteen 

 to eighteen feet is quite long enough for bank 

 fishing ; and one of twelve feet is sufficiently long 

 for punt fishing. 



Mr. Elaine pays a high compliment to the 

 roach, saying, 'Eoach angling offers much in- 

 terest to the piscatory zealots, who are shut out 

 from the high pursuits of fly-fishing. The roach 

 is an elegant fish when taken, and it requires 

 considerable skill to deceive it, whilst its game 

 qualities are such that it contests the matter with 

 the angler to the last, so as to yield no small 

 triumph when landed. We have seen a roach of 

 a pound in weight in a strong current in the 

 Thames, raise the blood in the face of an angler of 

 fair fame. They also, when in condition, bite 

 freely ; but we consider the principal hold they 

 have, or ought to have, on the angler, is their great 

 plenty, the numerous methods that may be em- 

 ployed to take them, to which may be added the 

 time of the year that sport may be obtained with 

 them, which is when few other fish yield any. 

 From the very bottom of the water, every inch of 

 the way up to the surface, they may be fished for 

 in various manners ; and when they are sunning 

 themselves at the top they will take a fly with the 



